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Sorry, but no winner this week. Here is the question again. What is a blocking ridge? Here is the answer.  Blocks in meteorology are large scale patterns in the atmospheric pressure field that are nearly stationary, effectively “blocking” or redirecting migratory cyclones. They are also known as blocking highs or blocking anticyclones.^[1] These blocks can remain in place for several days or even weeks, causing the areas affected by them to have the same kind of weather for an extended period of time (e.g.- precipitation for some areas, clear skies for others).^[2] In the Northern Hemisphere, extended blocking occurs most frequently in the spring over the eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans.^[1] (From Wikipedia)

I’ll have another weather quiz question for you starting next Monday. Please post your answer as a comment by clicking on “no comments” in the upper right hand portion of this page under the caption, then add your comment. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized  weather forecasts tailored to your needs. The answer has to be a comment to win. An email answer will not count.

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The jet stream shows a high pressure ridge ( “arch” shaped area over the Pacific Northwest) that has kept us under a relatively calm weather pattern is moving Eastward away from us.  The next frontal system (shown offshore) should move in by late today with other frontal systems following behind it (positions shown are for Monday). Remember that, particularly this time of the year, often when it’s not raining it is usually fogging.

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Advisories: A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH OREGON COAST. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.

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Here are your detailed forecasts. **

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis: Mostly cloudy today, rain likely (60%) this evening, rain  tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Sunday, a (30%) chance of rain Sunday evening and again Monday AM, rain likely (60%) Monday afternoon, then rain Monday night highs 55-52 lows 43-36. Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Tuesday, showers likely (60%) Tuesday night through Wednesday night, then a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday through Friday highs 49-44 lows 34-30. (seasonal  averages high 50 low 35)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including, Roseburg: Mostly cloudy today, a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain late tonight, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday, a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday evening, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain Monday, then rain in the afternoon and Monday night highs 58-53 lows 43-36. Mostly cloudy with rain and windy Tuesday, showers Tuesday night, showers likely (60%) Wednesday through Thursday, rain and snow showers likely (60%) Thursday night and Friday AM, then showers likely (60%) Friday afternoon highs 49-45 lows 37-32. (seasonal averages high 54 low 36)

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Mostly cloudy today, cloudy with coastal rain likely (60%) this evening, a (40%) chance of rain inland, rain late tonight and windy (wind: S 20-30 mph decreasing to S 15-20 mph late at night at the shore), mostly cloudy with AM rain likely (60%), and a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday afternoon, a good (50%) chance of rain inland,  a (30%) chance of rain Sunday evening, a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday AM, then rain and windy (wind: S 20-30 mph gusts to 45 mph in the afternoon) Monday afternoon, and  rain and windy Monday night highs 57-52 lows 45-38. Mostly cloudy with rain and windy Tuesday, showers and colder Tuesday night, showers likely (60%) Wednesday, rain and snow showers likely (60%) Wednesday night, showers likely (60%) Thursday, rain and snow showers likely (60%) Thursday night and Friday AM, then showers likely (60%) Friday afternoon highs 50-45 lows near 38. (seasonal averages high 54 low 41).

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:  Mostly cloudy today and breezy (wind: S 5-15 mph increasing to SW 15-25 mph this afternoon), cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain this evening, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible), AM rain, then rain likely (60%) Sunday afternoon (1-3 in. of snow possible, 0.25 in. of rain possible),  a (40%) chance of rain Sunday evening, a slight (20%) chance of ran late Sunday night, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday AM, rain likely (60%) Monday afternoon (1 in. of snow possible, 0.10 in. of rain possible), then rain and snow Monday night free air freezing level  7,000 ft. today, snow level 5,500 ft. falling to 5,000 ft. late tonight, 5,000 ft. Sunday, 5,500 ft.  Sunday night, 4,500 ft. Monday and Monday night highs 46-40 lows 30-27. Mostly cloudy with snow Tuesday, snow showers likely (60%) Tuesday night through Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Thursday, mostly cloudy with snow showers likely (60%) Thursday night and a good (50%) chance of snow showers Friday snow level 2,500 ft. Tuesday, falling to the surface and holding there from Tuesday night through Friday highs near 36 lows near 25.

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**Because weather forecasting is a combination of science, intuition, and timing there can be no absolute guarantees that individual forecasts will be 100% accurate. Nature is in a constant state of flux and sudden unexpected weather events can happen.